Honestly I had incredible conger eel in Japan and have never had a better experience since. Every eel I have had in the U.S. has never compared, even the eel I had in Seoul, so I was hesitant to order it at Minoru. But this was absolutely worth it. I'm so glad my husband pressured me to. The eel was incredibly tender and delicate on the inside with a delicious crispy exterior and a rich flavor with every bite. The contrast in texture was so so good and it honestly exceeded my expectations in every way. I wish I had more. Easily the best eel I have had in the U.S. I'm still thinking about it weeks later. My husband ordered the Wagyu donburi, which was excellent. The Wagyu was incredibly tender. The waitress also cracked an egg over the beef. It came with rice at the bottom, miso soup, and broth. I also really appreciated that our waitress came over and explained the different ways to enjoy both entrees. There were four different ways to eat each one, which made the experience feel much more thoughtful and interactive. I enjoyed eating mine plain and mixed with broth, scallions, and seaweed. These were the only two dishes we ordered and both were excellent. I will definitely be back for the eel again. It is definitely cheaper than flying to Japan to get my fix. read more

See all

Came here on a Saturday evening and, honestly, I'm pretty shocked by how positive some of the reviews are. The ambiance is beautiful and the concept is really cool, but unfortunately, the execution falls short. Given the high prices, I expected much better quality in both the food and service. The fact that it's BYOB is definitely a plus. We started with the miso soup, which was $8. For that price, I expected something more elevated, but it tasted no different from basic takeout miso soup. We also ordered the large sashimi appetizer. The fish was mediocre overall and simply didn't match the price point. The botan shrimp was probably the highlight. I ordered the Kaisen Don. The uni was fresh, although not among the best I've had. The tuna, however, was disappointing--you could tell just by looking at the color that it wasn't particularly fresh. The portion of fish was also very small, with the bowl heavily filled with rice. I'm pretty particular about sushi rice, and unfortunately, I didn't enjoy theirs. My husband ordered the Gyu Don, which was just okay. Again, there was very little meat and a LOT of rice. Overall, this place was a huge disappointment. The prices are far too high for the quality and portions you're getting, and there's a lot of room for improvement. The ambiance and BYOB concept are great, but unfortunately, the food just doesn't live up to the price or the hype. I'm genuinely surprised by all the glowing reviews. read more

Minoru - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Super cute date night / special occasion spot. I believe they only take reservations. There was plenty of paid street parking and you need to walk up their stairs to enter the restaurant. My first impression was that the railings were sticky. We were pleasantly greeted & sat down. The waitress took our order & provided us with the hand towels. We ordered a couple drinks, and plenty of food. The best item we tried was the Karage (fried chicken), it came out steaming hot & crispy. My husband ordered the Wagyy app & it was good too. I ordered the Shrimp Tempura noodles & my husband a Salmon sushi rice dish. All were presented beautifully, tasted fresh & light. The atmosphere is trendy & cute. The service is great & friendly. I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

See all

Pros: nice ambiance, great service, fresh and authentic food Cons: small portion sizes and expensive, that make some manhattan places seem affordable (e.g. $9 for one panko crusted King prawn bun). My $48 kaisen don undoubtedly has premium ingredients but at least include more sushi rice so that I'm left satisfied. Maybe I'm biased because I commute into Manhattan for work and I know I can find similar quality for a cheaper price or larger portion sizes. I'm giving this 4 stars because I understand that similar options are more limited in the suburbs. This is a nice place for special occasions and the quality here is great but just know that you are paying a premium. read more

Minoru - Ebi katsu bun ($9 for one) - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all

Visited Minoru, an elegantly minimalist restaurant located in Upper Montclair, NJ. The Thai owners also operate SLA Thai, just a few blocks away. Standout dishes from our meal included the Wagyu roll ($40 for 5 pieces), the tonkatsu (very flavorful and satisfying), and the Wagyu hot stone with special rice--the rice in particular was exceptional. We also planned to try the scallop ceviche, but it was unfortunately sold out that day. The server and hostess were both exceptionally warm, kind, and attentive throughout our visit. While the food is on the pricier side for the portion sizes, it feels fitting for the restaurant's refined and elegant dining experience. Parking can be a bit tricky in the area, but there is a lot behind the restaurant that is free at night. An 18% gratuity is suggested. read more

See all

Beware you have to go up the stairs. Service was really nice. We liked almost all of our dishes. It was prepared nicely. Our friend was not happy with the gyudon and tried just saving it with using flavors from other dishes. I think it just too simple for him, he said there was no flavor. But the other dishes were really good. The unadon was crispy like how they do it in Nagoya. Rice was cooked nice. Slightly too char for our preference though. Tonkatsu was really good. Mentaiko pasta was perfection. Kaisendon was very aesthetically pleasing and cool to make but I am unsure if I would get it again. The place was more casual than I expected especially for the price point but it can be a cute date spot or simple outing. read more

See all

Loved Minoru! This place has been on my list for a long time. Finally got to try and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is tucked away upstairs in an intimate setting. Super well decorated. Attentive service. Amazing food. BYOB. We loved everything we had - Kaisendon, eel over rice, soba. All delicious! Definitely on the pricier side so would recommend for special occasions. read more

See all

Food is great in terms of quality. Service is good as well. Ambience is fancy. The cost though doesn't match up the quantity for a fully grown adult per special dish. Hitsumabushi was great. The wagyu beef on hot stone was too little, with no sides. read more

Minoru - Hitsumabushi - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Had a very delicious and unique dining experience here! The food and the service were great. I liked how the place kind of feels like a hidden gem. read more

See all

The mentaiko pasta 5/5 no notes, just so good! Hubby and I shared the Kaisen Don. Also delicious. Wasabi was freshly grated. The lychee twilight was on the sweeter side. We finished off with a strawberry parfait. It was a little messy to eat in a Sunday cup, nonetheless the kids loved it. Will be back to try more dishes! read more

Exceptional food. Great service. Tiny place and you have to walk up stairs to get there. But damn is it all worth it. Everything was beyond fresh and perfect. Will be coming here regularly. read more

See all

Finally, an authentic Japanese restaurant set in an intimate, beautifully designed space. Our party of five enjoyed tasting our way through much of the menu. The service was friendly and attentive, albeit a bit rushed. The food was adventurous, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The dining space is small yet quietly elegant, and we were lucky to have a view of the open kitchen; you can truly see the love and dedication there. While I understand that other diners may be waiting for tables, we had less than an hour and a half at ours, and there were five of us. The dishes came out fast and furious, which diminished the experience of properly enjoying each dish's flavor and complexity. The table also wasn't quite large enough for our group, so the dining space felt crowded. I'm not a fan of messy tables, especially when a restaurant is aiming to offer an elevated dining experience. Overall, I'd love to return and enjoy the meal at a more relaxed pace, with the time and space to fully appreciate the flavors of each beautifully presented dish. read more

Minoru - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Came here to celebrate my birthday with family. Giving this a 4.5 and looking forward to coming back again! Really liked the mushroom salad. It had lots of lotus chips and greens...delicious! We also got the assorted tempura which was good - the dipping was came out very warm - so it was a nice addition on a windy cold day. The sabazushi was a bit too fishy for me. We tried both the Eel and the wagyu bowl sets between 4 people. I liked the wagyu more than the eel but mixing it was a bit rough. I'd recommend mixing the egg yolk with the rice and then adding the wagyu pieces back in. The service was well timed for our food and things came 1 after another. Unfortunately, they sold out of the matcha mochi the day we went so we opted for the mango parfait instead. It tasted ok but I would have rather had the mochi instead. read more

See all

Their KAISEN DON is all I need in life! Plus Minoru's excellent service. Enough said!

Great date nice spot. Food is great and made with ingredients that are sourced from Japan. You can definitely taste the difference. Definitely coming back when I'm local in NJ! Great and friendly staff too! read more

See all

I've had this spot saved in my bookmarks for so long, I'm so excited I finally got to come here!! Reservations are easy and they allow cancellations for at least 4 hours before without a fee. But who cares about that right? Let's get to the food. Everything on the menu sounded and looked delicious but we were most intrigued by the kaisendon and the hitsumabushi. The Mentaiko spaghetti as well -- which was unlike any other Mentaiko spaghetti I've had before ! Everything was so delicious, fresh, and full of umami. Our favorite dish was definitely the hitsumabushi, which you can enjoy 4 different ways. Staff are all so kind and sweet and explains everything to you thoroughly. 10/10 recommend and 10/10 will come back! read more

See all

To celebrate my daughter and son's November birthdays we made reservation at Minoru in Montclair. Enjoyed a delicious feast! Staff attentive! And friendly. Our Server Christine T was great! My son ordered Hitsumabushi- The Manager came to our table to explain this dish. Hitsumabushi is a traditional Nagoya, Japan, dish of grilled eel (unagi) served over rice, famous for being eaten in four distinct ways. Impressive dish! Mocktails available! BYOB Street metered parking! read more

See all

Food is amazing-- we had the kaisen don, aji and fig , eel over rice, curry, tempura, tea service. We made a reservation for a table bur since the place was not filled when we arrived we also had the option of taking a booth, which we did. Simple and cozy interior, friendly and amazing service, restrooms are clean. Option for tip on the check starts at 25%, but you can of course choose your own and write it down, just FYI. Street parking, town parking lot, and a 2 minute walk to Somedays Bakery if you fancy some great desserts :) read more

See all

Food quality is good and everything was delicious - tonkatsu ramen, scallop ceviche, wagyu donnuri set and kaisen don. Service was great and ambiance is wonderful. The only complaints are the small portions and the desserts were basic- we tried 3 different parfaits. read more

See all

Took the family to Minoru for my daughter's birthday. Final verdict: our wallets are lighter, our wine was self-supplied, and we'll definitely be back! Here's the breakdown: Service: 10/10. Huge shoutout to Richard and Christine--they were ridiculously polite and took great care of us. Plus, they brought out a complimentary birthday dessert with a candle for my daughter, which was a sweet touch! BYOB: The ultimate MVP feature. Bring your favorite drinks and pretend you're saving money on the overall bill. The Food: Suburban Japanese with a fun fusion twist. Don't expect strict Tokyo traditions, but everything was very solid. Portions & Pricing: Portions aren't huge, and the prices lean high. But honestly, knowing most of the ingredients are imported straight from Japan makes the price tag fair. Quality costs! The Vibe: Cozy and nice, though definitely on the smaller side--so keep the guest list intimate. All in all, high-quality ingredients, fantastic service, and a great neighborhood spot. Worth the splurge! read more

See all

Minoru is North Jersey's hottest new upscale Japanese restaurant. Authentic cuisine, refined and elevated. The perfect spot for date night or dinner with friends. Tucked away on the second floor, it feels like an instant escape to Japan--where every dish is packed with incredible flavor. One visit won't be enough. The staff takes the best care of you and helps guide your experience. Check out our full visit here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUj2jX7jczE/?igsh=N3BhazJ2Mnh6Z25h read more

See all

Food is very good. Ramen broth solidified in fridge when we took it home. That's a lot of fat bruh. Prices are 2x higher than they should be. read more

Japanese cuisine not focused on sushi? Umm yes! This upstairs spot with exposed brick and warm inviting atmosphere is a welcome addition to Valley rd. They CJ the kitchen is open concept - they have very private booths which are super nice. Waitstaff are helpful and attentive. The food is top notch. I tried the Soba Tempura Hot for $28 which was delicious. The shrimp tempura was perfectly fried and crispy. It was also presented well and was a big portion especially given it was lunch. My only criticism was that there is no lunch menu or lunch prices. read more

Minoru - Soba Tempura Hot - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Amazing food, good vibe. Especially loved the corn with Parmesan cheese shavings and both the unagi and beef bowls we got. Family friendly, but also good for friend gatherings or even dates! read more

See all

I was beyond excited to try Minoru for the first time, and they managed to exceed my expectations. This little jewel of a restaurant is located on the second floor above the old Dai Kitchi in Upper Montclair. The design is tranquil and lovely. We were lucky enough to sit in one of the gorgeous booths. The service was excellent. The servers were helpful with any questions you may have, and everyone was friendly and gracious. We ordered the Scallop Uni Ceviche, which arrived first. The first bite of this dish absolutely astonished. Bursting with bright, fresh flavors it was pure essence of the sea. We finished every last drop. Next, came the Chawanmushi with Uni. Another stunner. Silky egg mixed with creamy uni and pops of ikura. Another absolute homerun. Omu Curry was our first entree. Textbook perfect rice, draped with a beautiful blanket of egg, next to a luscious rich brown spiced curry. These flavors are a party in your mouth. The finale was the Chef Special Hitsumabushi. This is grilled eel over rice, that is served with a variety of ways to enjoy it. First, it's the best eel that I have ever eaten. The rich sweet meat melts with the crispy skin for a fantastic bite. My favorite bite was with the house made wasabi. It was a perfect combination of flavors. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert but they have some delicious sounding parfaits. We have already decided that we need to eventually try the entire menu. I cannot wait to return. This is Japanese cuisine at a very high level. This is NYC level quality that we are lucky enough to have in NJ. Minoru is outstanding. read more

Minoru, the new Japanese spot in Upper Montclair, is already making waves--and for good reason. The tonkatsu ramen is rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. I went for the spicy version, which had a nice kick without overwhelming the delicate broth, while my friend had the classic tonkatsu--comforting and perfectly balanced. We also shared a seaweed and cucumber salad, light and refreshing, and a melt-in-your-mouth roast pork bun that was gone in seconds. The quality of the ingredients and care in preparation really shine through in every dish. That said, lunch for two came to just under $100, which makes it a splurge for a midday meal. Still, if you're craving high-end ramen and polished Japanese small plates in a cozy setting, Minoru is worth the visit--just don't expect casual prices. read more

Minoru - Pork bao - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all

Minoru is an upscale Japanese eatery in the heart of downtown Montclair. We came here for lunch and left stuffed and impressed. The service was great and the restaurant has a nice vibe to it. In terms of the food, the highlight for me was the hitsumabushi, which is Nagoya style grilled eel over rice. It's $68 which is certainly very pricey, but the dish was truly amazing. We also ordered the miso cod set, a Nabeyaki udon, a katsu curry, and a couple of appetizers. All were good to very good. read more

See all

Amazing birthday dinner. Service top notch, food very high quality and delicious. Went with a a bunch of different Wagyu dishes... fried rice, hot stone, donburri set and the roll of course topped with uni. Had a new item which I had to try, toro caviar toast ... outstanding. They even had a nice match parfait dessert ready for my birthday. Will def be back and highly recommend read more

See all

Very good Japanese cuisine with great presentation. The decoration and food containers used for each dish were really pretty and unique. However, the price you paid was higher than the value of the meal. read more

See all

No words except you must give this Japanese restaurant a try! Their grand opening is march 3rd so if you plan to stop by before then, definitely make a reservation. I would still encourage you to make a reservation because I have no doubts that this restaurant will become popular in the future! I made a reservation for 12 pm and my dining experience was elevated entirely by the manners of the team. Richard, the host, greeted me as soon as I came in with a huge smile on his face. My server, Kelly, was so attentive the entire time, making sure I had everything I needed and refilled my water every time it ran low. I had the honor of meeting the owner, Meji and the chef, Tyler I cannot say enough great things about food. I ordered the mushroom bun, wagyu tataki, and ebi katsu curry. - MUSHROOM BUN: definitely the star of the show. I've never had anything like it. If you like mushroom, you will love this. The parm shaved on top was such a great addition - WAGYU TATAKI: the ponzu sauce wasn't too tarte and the wasabi zest wasn't overpowering. The wagyu was thinly sliced which made for the perfect bite size. All the flavors mixed perfectly together - EBI KATSU CURRY: I love love curry and this met my expectations. It did have a little spice but it wasn't too spicy for me. The shrimp that came with it is like shrimp tempura. Super crispy. The pickled radish they put goes so well with each bite of rice&curry - Minoru matcha tiramisu: loved all the layers. Not too sweet Everything thing from the service, to the minor details like the light on the table, floral decor, gold utensils for the main course, mini wooden spoon for the dessert, a hot towel when you're seated to wipe your hands, is so worth experiencing. I will definitely be back to try other items on the menu! Street parking :( read more

See all

The space is sleek, intimate and welcoming. Up the narrow staircase you enter a space that transports you to a different place from where you just entered from. There are several tables around the space with maybe 4-5 booth areas along the wall. We stopped by for a 12 PM lunch on a Friday and it was already pretty full for just opening. Now to the food: Mentaiko Pasta (3/5) Excellent presentation and well cooked, I took off points mainly based on preference. It's a bit too heavy on the mayo taste for me which as a stand alone dish could be a overwhelming. Would recommend pairing with something else (which we did) and share with someone. Definitely filling. Agedashi Tofu (5/5) Superbly cooked and great balance of all the elements. YUM! Wagyu Fried Rice (4/5) Excellent and another substantial dish. I only took away one star because it was quite oily. Taste and flavor profile was awesome and ample ratio of rice to other ingredients. Shareable. Reminder it is BYOB and would recommend a reservation as it's pretty small. Street and parking lot in the area. read more

Minoru - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all

Came here for our wedding anniversary and had a lovely time. Food was delicious, the restaurant itself is in the second floor and feels like something you would find in Manhattan, and the service was amazing. Additionally, they gave us a free dessert (with a candle in it) for our anniversary and that was such a nice gesture. I look forward to returning! read more

See all

4.5 stars The restaurant was located on the second floor. We entered from the back, where public parking lot was located. Free parking on Sunday. Upon entering the restaurant, I was taken away by the beautiful decor. The restaurant was not big at all. Make sure you make reservations. Service was top notch. Everyone was polite and very friendly and attentive. We ordered karaage and tempura for appetizers. They were both very good. For main dish we ordered wagyu fried rice, una don, ten don, and anago ten don. Everything was excellent. I was surprised by the fried rice. It was so good! Knock down half a star because of suggested tipping. I have never seen a restaurant asking for 25%, 28%, or 30% tips! Not even 5 star restaurants. There was an area to put in my own tips. I did 20%. As much as the service was top notch, it did not warrant 25%. I think the restaurant should seriously consider redo the tips area. Will come back again for special occasions. read more

At the top of the flight of stairs is the restaurant Minoru. Having recently just opened, the ambience Is quite nice. The kitchen is an open area design and the dining area has more of a modern influence with slight touches of classic Japanese decor. The service was quite pleasant. They started off with bringing a nice warm hand towel to the table and after a few minutes took my order. There was a significant wait between the two dishes I ordered (approx. 25 minutes) but they apologized and assured me that my food was on the way. As for the food; I ordered two dishes. The first dish was the Kaisendon and the second dish was the Hitsumabuchi. The Kaisendon which was comprised of Uni , Ikura and snow crab on a bed of sushi rice came in a little compact container and it was accompanied by wasabi , ginger and nori for making little hand rolls. It was nice and fresh all the ingredients harmoniously mixed together well. I just wish there was more . The other dish was the Hitsumabuchi. So this is Eel grilled Nagoya style over rice accompanied by wasabi , nori flakes, and scallion. It also came with a house made broth too and miso soup. The head chef personally came to my table and kindly suggested the appropriate way to eat the dish. The grilled eel was savory and slightly crispy. The addition of the wasabi , nori flakes and scallion provided a fresh flavor profile. Finally , the eel and rice mixed with the broth gave the dish a rich umami flavor. There was also a side of miso soup that came with the eel as well. I was surprised that their version of miso was accompanied by little mushrooms along with the tofu and seaweed. Still very tasty nonetheless. Overall positive experience; I would definitely come back to try other dishes. The reason I gave it 3 /5 though was I waited a long time for the Hitsumabuchi dish . They had to apologize to me twice. By the time I got it I was one of the last diners there. Also, the way they served their Kaisendon dish threw me off a bit. I've been to a bunch Japanese restaurants that do Kaisendon and it's usually served in a bowl not in a little jewelry box; The spoon that it came with was more suited for a chawanmushi instead. Lastly, I was asking the servers about the ingredients and where they came from and I was told " I don't know".As a diner I would hope the wait staff knows where the ingredients are being sourced from. These were just my personal nit picks but despite that I had a good experience. I wish the restaurant all the best and a bright future read more

Minoru - Hitsumabuchi - Japanese Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all

This is a beautiful and serene room. The service is top notch, both personal and distant enough, so you are not feeling like they hover. The truffle Ramen was truly outstanding with layers of flavor and beautiful textures. The Jackfish appetizer was perfectly made. I can't say enough about this restaurant. read more

Really small tapas portions for uninspiring food. I ordered chawanmushi, which was good. Miso Black Cod was good, a bit salty but very tender, except it came with a piece of onion instead of the usual pink colored leek. I've had better. They were so slow. The table next to me came later but they already got their appetisers before me. For my soba noodles, the tempura shrimp was overcooked. It was dry and rubbering and didn't taste all that fresh. How do you mess up tempura shrimp?!? On top of that, it still wasn't that much food. For one person, without tip, my meal came close to $78. I still didn't have enough food. I love Japanese food, but I'm disappointed that my shrimp tempura was overcooked. This restaurant seems to focus on unagidons even though it's not really an eel restaurant. Really overpriced. And we not even in NYC. I'm not sure I'd go back again. How you mess up tempura shrimp!?? It's just fried shrimp! read more

See all

Upper Montclair in New Jersey just got a new upscale Japanese spot that serves authentic dishes! And it's not just sushi either Dishes we tried + Wagyu hot stone (9/10) + Hitsumabushi - Nagoya style grilled Japanese eel over rice (9.5/10) +Hokkaido seafood shabu shabu - snow crab, salmon, scallop, and assorted veggies in dashi broth (8/10) + Scallop uni ceviche (10/10) + Assorted tempura (8/10) + Matcha parfait (9/10) Ok talk about presentation! The Wagyu hot stone speaks for itself. The Hokkaido shabu shabu is so hearty and perfect for this cold weather too. I loved how the server explained how to eat the dishes. The variety of flavors and textures are second to none. And can't forget finishing with that matcha parfait. Note: Mostly street parking but there are a few lots nearby. Follow my Instagram and TikTok @thephotographerfoodie for more! :) read more

Server "Pui R?" took care of us like VIPs. The food was delicious. Chef is both an artist and a innovative chef. The restaurant look and feel is Japanese. Not only did we love the food but we felt like we were in an Asian hospitality environment. Excellent. We plan on going back and bringing our friends to share this special place. read more

See all

I felt like I was in Japan! The restaurant truly gives you an authentic Japanese feel to it with its interior design. The food was impeccable. I started with the shrimp bao run - the white sauces and crunchy fried shrimp was so good - and corn rib - which has shredded Parmesan and tasted so good. For my entree I had the wagyu fried rice and wow so flavorful! As for the service, it was truly the BEST I have experienced at any restaurant I've ever been too. The food comes out quick, once meals are done the waiters very quickly get your plates, and they are extremely friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be returning. read more

See all

Suggested Minoru by a friend for a birthday event, we went as a party of 4. Montclair is known for a competitive hotbed of exciting food spots and this is no different. Up the steps from the first floor to arrive in a cozy, Intimate setting and friendly waitstaff. Photos taken were Ramen, Tonkatsu, Matcha Tiramisu, A5 Wagyu and not listed were bao buns. Can only speak about what I tried. Of course, the price may be higher than other Japanese restaurants, but the flavor and careful preparation made it worthwhile. The A5 Wagyu set was brought to me and given a follow through by the head waiter on how best to enjoy it with broth, stirring the meat with eggs or as a salad. The biggest surprise was the Matcha Tiramisu, where the matcha powder didn't steal the delight of the tiramisu treat within, and added a unique texture for the taste buds. Found it the best way to end the night. Everything I tried left me satisfied and hope to return before the end of the year. read more

See all